The Metabolic Underpinnings of Retinal Health and Disease: A Focus on Photoreceptor Cells

Review The Metabolic Underpinnings of Retinal Health and Disease: A Focus on Photoreceptor Cells Jianbo Jin 1,2, Qiuping Liu 3,*, and Cheng Li 1,2,4,* 1 Eye Institute & Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China 2 Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Xiamen 361102, China 3 Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China 4 Shen Zhen Research Institute, Xiamen University, Shenzhen 518057, China * Correspondence: [email protected] (Q.L.); [email protected] (C.L.) Received: 27 October 2024; Revised: 9 December 2024; Accepted: 19 February 2025; Published: 14 April 2025 Abstract: The photoreceptor cells of the retina, encompassing rods and cones, are pivotal in the transduction of light signals into chemical ones, thereby initiating the visual process. This review explores the metabolic bedrock of these cells, which are not only crucial for preserving retinal health but are also susceptible to metabolic stress, precipitating a spectrum of retinal pathologies. The manuscript elucidates the intricate metabolic processes of photoreceptor cells, the synergistic metabolic interplay between photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and appraises the metabolic shifts within photoreceptor cells under conditions of photic injury and diverse pathological states, as well as the ramifications of these metabolic perturbations for retinal function. The review culminates with a prospective horizon scan of research in photoreceptor cell metabolism, charting anticipated investigative trajectories.